Gustav neuhaus



(No Model.) v

' G; NEUHAUS.

KEY "B GARD FOR MUSIG'ALWINSTRUMENTS:

Patented Sept. 6, 1881.,

INVBNTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV NEUHAUS, OF KALKAR., PRUSSIA, GERMANY.

KEY-BOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 4Patent No. 246,805, dated september e, 1881.

Application filed June 22, 1881. (No model.)v

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAV NEUHAUs, a resident of the village ot' Kalkar, county ot' Cleve, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented an Improvedv Key- Board for Piano-Fortes and similar Musical Instruments, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to an improved keyboard for pianos ot' all kinds, by which the keys are not only reached in every direction in a more convenient manner, but by which, furthermore, owing to the larger sizeof the sounding-board obtained thereby, an increased volume of tone is produced.

rIhe invention consists of a key board for pianos of all kinds, in which the keys are arranged in an arc ot' a circle and radially to the center of the same, and in which the actionframe is arranged concentrically to the keyboard.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a plan View of a grand piano with my improved key-board, and Fig. 2 a plan View of an upright piano.

Similar letters ot" reference indicate corresponding parts.

I propose to arrange the keyboard in the form of an are of a circle, the radius of which from the center of the circle to the front edge of the key-board has been found by experimental tests to be preferably ninety-nine centimeters in length. In this key-board the single keys form radii of the circle, and are consequently of a slightly Wedge-shaped form.

- The keys are at the point where the black or upper keys begin-that is to say, at the-line c b, Fig. l--of the samenormal width as in the keys heretofore in use. Consequently thefront portions of the keys situated inside of the line a b are somewhat narrower, which makes for the length of an octave a difference of nine millimeters, whereby the striking of octaves is considerably facilitated.

Owing to the tapering shape of the keys the rear parts of the lower keys, outside ot' the line a b, are wider, so as to facilitate the striking of the white keys between the black keys, which, in the common form of key-board, is frequently connected with some difficulty, especially to players with thick lingers. The form of the arc-shaped key-board facilitates the playing, as all the keys are at equal distances from `the player, who can reach them with great facility by a simple side motion of the forearm, which moves naturally in a circle, allot' which is not the case with the key-boards heretofore in use.

The improved key-board has the further advantage, that the actions can be made stronger and more durable, as there is more space furnished back of the key-board. The actionframe d d is likewise made in the shape ot' an are of a circle and concentric to the key-board. The sounding-board can also be enlarged and extended forward, by which the volumeof tone of the instrument is consequently increased.

I am aware that key-boards arranged in the shape of an are of a circle are not broadly new, and I therefore do not lay an exclusive claim thereto; but in these key-boards the action-frame was not made to correspond in shape to the key-board, which forms the essential feature of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As an improvement in pianos,'the combination of a key-board, the keys of which are arranged in an arc ot' a circle and radially to the center of the same, with an action-frame arranged concentrically to the key-board, substantially as-specitied.

In testimonywhereot I have signed my name to this specitication in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

GUSTAV NEUHAUS.

Witnesses:

GERARD VoN MAwRoeKr, f BERTHOLD R01. 

